The past few years have seen a blossoming diversity in the type of people who are seeking out plastic surgery, from baby boomers to men. Now it’s time to make room for another group: individuals over the age of 65.
Typically, most older patients come to cosmetic surgeons wanting facial work (blepharoplasty, face lifts, etc.) for anti-aging purposes. An increasing number of women, however—including women in their 70s and 80s—are also starting to opt for breast lifts and implants. While this might sound unusual, most women over 65 who have these procedures done will tell you the decision was simple: they wanted to look as good as they feel when they stand in front of a mirror, and having modest implants put in or having a subtle lift performed is an effective means of achieving that goal.

Comparative to the whole, the percentage of plastic surgery patients who are over 65 isn’t high—it hovers around 8 percent. With how many people are seeking out plastic surgery now, however, the number of seniors getting procedures is significant; according to the ASAPS, 84,685 surgical procedures were performed upon individuals over 65 in 2010 alone.

If you’re over 65 and considering plastic surgery, keep in mind that you should be in good general health before trying to book a procedure. Underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity can make the general anesthesia necessary for most procedures a dangerous gamble. If you’re in good health and have realistic expectations about what you want to change, however, it shouldn’t matter how old you are. Plastic surgery can’t make you 20 again—but it can make you feel and look your best at any age, whether you’re 45 or 85.